Trainee-Trainer Ratio

Trainee to Trainer ratio belongs among the key factors influencing the quality of the students' learning. A high trainee-trainer ratio suggests that each trainer is responsible for a large number of pupils. The lower the number of trainees in the group, the higher the relative access of trainees to the trainer and the available equipment. Trainers can also pay attention to the individual trainees, which may positively impact on their performance.

To calculate the indicator's value, divide the total number of trainees enrolled in the given vocational education and training (VET) program by the number of trainers in the same VET program.

If the trainers teach in more than one VET program, then only the relative share directly related to the given VET program should be counted. For example, if a trainer spends 50% of his time training veterinarian students and 50% of his time training animal husbandry students than he should only be counted as 0,5 trainer in trainee-trainer ratio for each of the VET programs.

The data can be obtained from registers of VET providers, teacher records and education authorities.

1) If a VET institution suffers from low attendance rates, then the indicator should be calculated based on the number of attending trainees (instead of enrolled ones).

2) The results can be compared with established national norms on the number of students/ trainees per teacher/ trainer for each level or type of education.

3) This indicator does not take into account factors which could affect the quality of teaching/ learning, such as differences in trainers’ qualifications, pedagogical training, experiences and status, teaching methods, teaching materials and variations in classroom conditions.